Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 58. Estimate $2500.  Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2003.  Sold For $2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 280-279 BC. AV Tetrobol (2.83 gm). Attic standard. Struck for Pyrrhos of Epeiros. LEUKIPPO[S], bearded head of Leukippos right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with Skylla hurling a stone / M-E, Two six-grained barley ears, each with a curly leaf to outside; SI between. SNG ANS 397 (same dies); Johnston Class G, 5.1; HN Italy 1630. Good VF. Rare. (See color enlargement on plate 1.) ($2500)

Demonstrating the usual flare shown by the die engravers in the service of Pyrrhos during his military expedition in Italy and Sicily, the small gold issues of 280/279 depicting Nike and Leukippos (HN Italy 1629-1631) are of a refinement second to none. The traditional city founder is rendered in exquisite detail with the added novelty of his helmet being decorated with Scylla hurling a stone, the very embodiment of aggressive violence before the enemy in time of war.